Man Utd pay emotional tribute to Denis Law as Sir Alex Ferguson joins legends on Old Trafford pitch before Brighton loss

OLD TRAFFORD paid a heart-warming tribute to Manchester United legend Denis Law after his death aged 84.

Legendary manager Sir Alex Ferguson joined Law's former team-mates Paddy Crerand and Alex Stepney on the pitch as a touching poem was read before kick-off against Brighton.

Scottish pipers played out "The Flower of Scotland" as United's starting line-up walked slowly next to Brighton's XI on Sunday.

Club captain Bruno Fernandes held a wreath as the teams were led out, while a sell-out crowd applauded.

Ferguson, who was singing "Take Me Home, United Road", emerged on to the pitch with a host of United legends.

The fellow Scot, 82, laid the wreath on the half-way line after the poem dedicated to Law finished.

More than 74,000 fans then burst out into another round of applause and song before kick-off. 

All the flags at Old Trafford are at half mast, including the Scotland flag above the Sir Alex Ferguson stand. 

Man Utd are wearing black armbands in tribute to Law - who was known as The King of the Stretford End.

Mourners began arriving at Old Trafford late on Friday night to lay flowers, scarves and leave messages for Law.

A Ballon d'Or winner in 1964, Law won the European Cup, two English titles and the FA Cup in his 11 years at Old Trafford between 1962 and 1973.

He is United's third-highest goal scorer of all time behind Wayne Rooney and Charlton with 237 in 404 games, and Scotland's joint top scorer with 30 goals from his 55 caps.

Law revealed in August 2021 that he had been diagnosed with Alzheimer's and vascular dementia.

He is one of the United Trinity immortalised in a statue at Old Trafford alongside George Best and Sir Bobby Charlton, who passed away last year.

Ferguson hugged his former striker Danny Welbeck, who now plays for Brighton, before the whistle.

Ferguson recalled heartfelt memories about first meeting Law, who he considers "the best Scottish player of all time".

The iconic Man Utd gaffer told MUTV ahead of this afternoon's tribute: "Once you knew Denis, and saw him play, you said well this is a player.

"He's got all these caps for Scotland, the King of Old Trafford.

“The interesting thing is why do they call him 'The King' because they had George Best and Bobby Charlton, the greatest English player of all time.

“He was a fantastic player for this club but they called Denis 'The King'. 

“It's something to do with his determination, the will to win he showed every time he went on to a football field.

"It's what he was - a really competitive human being. No matter which game, that was always there.

"This image of Denis Law fighting against the centre-half, if the goalkeeper dropped the ball, he'd be right over the top of them."

However, United's current side failed to give the King the send-off he deserved, losing 3-1 in another hugely disappointing performance for the Old Trafford faithful.